Gathered on sugar maples, one might confuse the white gatherings as the allergy-inducing fluffy stuff, but it's alive.

Thousands of gypsy moths have turned trees into breeding grounds, and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection even says the activity is widespread this year for the first time in decades.

Years ago a fungus was introduced into the local ecosystem to help control the moth population, and it's worked for years. However, with the dry spring we experienced, the fungus wasn't able to activate, causing more moths to breed, hatch and rebreed.

It's too late to exterminate because the eggs have already been laid, but most trees can weather the outburst.